A parent or teacher may initiate a referral.  Multiple criteria are used to identify students for the Gifted and Talented Program.  The use of multiple criteria helps to provide greater insight into the potential of individual students.  These criteria include a parent referral form, a teacher recommendation and a standardized test score.  In addition, each school has a Gifted Education Committee that can review individual cases.

Grades K-7
A Parent Referral form is available from each elementary principal and the Middle School Guidance office for any parent who would like to initiate a referral.  After the form is completed, one or more of the student's teachers complete a rating scale on the student. A teacher may also initiate a referral by completing this rating scale.  The score on this rating scale determines whether or not testing will occur.  If testing is to occur, parental consent will be obtained before testing begins.

Parents will be notified by the building principal with the results of the evaluation. If a student meets the identification criteria, the Gifted Education Committee, in consultation with the parents, will decide in which program a student will participate (Pullout Enrichment or Acceleration).  The goal is to provide the best fit for identified students.  Students will not be able to participate in both programs.

 Grades 8-12
Students in grades 8-12 who want to accelerate will be administered an appropriate subject-specific test.  A student must have at least a B+ average in the subject to be considered for an accelerated course.  A student new to the school will have his/her transcript/records evaluated by the Guidance Department.